The Gospel of John Week 18
Scripture: John 13:21-14:6.

We pick up with the rest of the story of the Lord’s Last Supper that Passover evening. Pastor shares what the layout may have looked like at this meal. Where people were at around the table, that they were reclining vs sitting, that they ate with their right hands and laid on their sides resting their heads in the left hands.

As the story continues, Jesus shares that He knows one of His disciples is going to betray Him. John asks who it is that will do that and Jesus says that it is the one I give this bread to. And then Jesus hands the dipped bread to Judas and he takes the bread and leaves.

After Judas leaves Jesus says, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.”  What strange words to say after exposing that He will be betrayed…..

Why say them? Jesus is going to be arrested, beaten, scourged and die – how does this bring glory?  It’s because Jesus is looking ahead, He’s looking beyond the immediate to what lies ahead – His glorification. Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “For the joy set before Jesus, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

Jesus’ glorification is accomplished in following the Father’s will, the path to Victory and in glorifying the Father by doing so.  When Jesus is on the cross the Father is glorified because everything the Father had intended, everything that He had planned is now coming to fulfillment through His obedient Son, Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus goes on in John 13:34-35 telling them to love one another as He has loved them. And then He tells Peter that he will deny knowing Him before the rooster crows.

Pastor shares great info on what “rooster crow” is and that it wasn’t a rooster crowing, but that was the way they told time. The Romans divided the evening watch into four watches:
6-9pm = evening
9-12am = midnight
12-3am = rooster crows
3-6am = dawn

We can see Jesus use these four terms here: “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” (Be Awake!)

Jesus is telling Peter that sometime between midnight and 3am he will deny knowing Him three times.

Then we move into John Chapter 14 where Jesus tells the disciples “Do not keep allowing your hearts to be troubled any longer. You believe in God. Believe in me.”

When we face troubled times, we believe in God – meaning we are to trust Him. And Jesus is saying believe in Him, Messiah, – trust in Him, He’s our Savior..  And then He tells them “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”  And what the disciples understand from the Jewish scriptures is that Jesus is talking in wedding language. 

Pastor shares Jewish tradition around wedding planning and weddings and what we see in the Bridegroom (Jesus) and His bride (the body of believers.) This wedding/marriage talk is Jesus’ way of expressing Hies deep love for us. Jesus is the groom and He is calling us to realize how much He loves us.

Thomas says, “Where are You going, Lord?” And Jesus says, “I am the way. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 

Getting to heaven is not about being a good person, because no one is truly good – all have sinned. It’s only through faith in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross and His resurrection that we go to heaven.

Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

Pastor opens today’s class with the words from Psalm 135:15-18 “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”  We will see the truth of these words in today’s study.

Elijah’ Days: Most of this prophet’s ministry was during the height of King Ahab in the north in Israel and King Jehoshaphat in the south in Judah. His name, Elijah, is even prophetic. In Hebrew it literally means, my God is Jehovah.

    ⁃    A time of great apostasy – under Ahab and Jezebel there was an attempt to get rid of any semblance of worship of the Living God and to supplant God with the worship of Baal. 
    ⁃    A prophet of great faith (Elijah)
    ⁃    A man of insignificance (very little is know about him, was he even an Israelite?)
    ⁃    A time of great danger for believers. Ahab and Jezebel sought to destroy God’s prophets.
    ⁃    A ministry of great impact

Elijah’s ministry is recorded in 
1 Kings 17-19, 21
2 Kings 1-2
2 Chronicles 21

Elijah’s Ministry:
    ⁃    Prediction and Provision (1 Kings 17) Elijah speaks that there will not be rain or dew for the next few years. This is a direct attack on King Ahab’s gods. And the drought begins. Elijah goes into hiding. There are some great stories of God’s miraculous provision for Elijah during the famine.
    ⁃    Contest at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18-19) God tells Elijah 3 years after the drought started that he was to go to Ahab and tell him that God would send rain. Elijah confronts Ahab about abandoning God and says for Ahab and his people and 850 prophets of Baal to meet him, a prophet of God, at Mt. Carmel and offers them the choice to follow God or Baal.  Elijah is severely outnumbered against 850 false prophets, but the contest begins.
    ⁃    The Contest – those prophets worshiping Baal were told to pray to Baal for Baal to bring fire onto their altar, but it never comes. Elijah then builds his altar of 12 stones (1 for each tribe of Israel), slaughters the bull and then covers the altar in water and at 3pm he prays to God and the fire of the Lord falls on Elijah’s altar. When the people see this they fall and cry out, “The Lord, He is God, the Lord, He is God!” They destroy the false prophets, and the rains start falling. 
    ⁃    The Aftermath – Elijah runs to Jezreel (the summer palace) where Jezebel threatens him saying she is going to ensure he is killed. Elijah becomes fearful and runs for his life. He hides in the wilderness and becomes very discouraged and depressed.  He tells God that he’s had enough, and to take his life. Then an angel of the Lord comes and tells him to head to Mt. Sinai where the Lord will appear to him.

Join us next week as we continue our study of Elijah!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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Did Jesus exist? 
Is Jesus a myth? 
Is there any evidence that Jesus actually lived? 
Is there any evidence outside the Bible? 

The answer is absolutely, there’s a great deal of evidence. Many are unaware of some of the very profound and powerful evidences for the existences of Jesus. 

Today we will take a look at the evidence for Jesus’ existence, coming at it from three different vantage points:

Ancient Hostile Witnesses: (Pastor goes into detail regarding each of the following hostile testifiers to Jesus and His followers)
    •    Tacitus – Annals XV, 44 (ca 55-120A.D) 
    •    Suetonius – Claudius, 25 and Nero, 18 (ca 117-138 A.D.)
    •    Pliny the Younger – Letter to Roman Emperor Trajan (ca 112 A.D.)
    •    Sanhedrin 43a (part of the Talmud)
    •    Josephus – “Testimonium Flavianum”  Antiquities, 18:3 (ca 37-97 A.D.)

Earliest Witnesses
    •    Doctor Luke and John Mark
    •    Jesus’ best friend, John
    •    Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul)

Accepted historical Facts: Acknowledged by Scholars, Liberals, Conservatives, Christians, Jews and Agnostics:
    •    Jesus died by Roman Crucifixion
    •    His tomb was discovered to be empty
    •    His disciples said they saw the risen Jesus
    •    His disciples lives were radically changed
    •    Resurrection proclaimed early in Jerusalem
    •    James and Paul became believers

Pastor concludes the teaching time telling us that God changed his heart and the direction of his career.

Then Pastor changes the question to “Does Jesus really exist?” and continues with the following: “If Jesus is alive, if He has risen from the grave, that changes everything. It means that God has broken into our world. It means that there is life and forgiveness in Him, and that apart from Him, you have nothing. Today’s question is not simply a question about the historical past, this is a question about eternal destiny!”

Jesus is alive! And we pray that He will be, if He’s not already, the Lord of your life!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

Join us Sundays 
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Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Check out this episode!

The Gospel of John Week 17
Scripture: John 12:27-13;30, Isaiah 6.

Today’s study takes us through an insider’s view of the final hours before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

We open with Jesus words in John 12:27-28, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

We see Jesus’ heart here – In the verses we see Him not as fully God but as fully man – fully human – He is bearing the weight of the world in His soul and in His heart. This is a reminder of just how great His love is for us.

The Father in heaven answered Jesus – in verses 28-29, “Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”

To the crowd they thought it was thunder or that an angel spoke! But it was the voice of God the Father. The Father will be glorified through the sacrifice of His Son, by His Son’s willing submission to the Father’s will.

The Father brings judgement on the Son because His love for us is so great that He is willing to take our penalty for sin. We will see Jesus is exalted as He gives up His life and is lifted up (onto the cross) for all of us.

We learn in today’s study that God’s heart desire is to turn people back to Himself. God’s heart is to bring healing.

In verse 42-43 we read, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

Following God no matter the cost, choosing to be right with God instead of right with people…

Pastor spends time explaining the timing of Jesus’ death in the Gospel of John against the timing in the other three gospels.

We take an in-depth look at the Passover Meal and the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus.

As Jesus does the feet washing what He’s saying is that this is not about mere ritual, this is about relationship with Him that transforms our lives. He’s acting out that transformation as He washes their feet.  He says, “you also should wash one another’s feet.”

We end by beginning to explore Jesus predicting His betrayal by one of the disciples.

Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

Pastor opens with Psalm 33:12  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” 

Our class starts and ends with the story of the kings of Judah. But in between Asa’s 40 year reign as a king of Judah and his son, Jehoshaphat’s 22 year reign, we see the turmoil and chaos that is transpiring in Israel the northern kingdom.

Major events of Asa’s Reign: 
    ⁃    Zera the Cushite attacks (2 Chr. 14:8-15)
    ⁃    Azariah and Covenant Renewal (2 Chr. 15:1-19)
    ⁃    Treaty with Ben-Hadad of Aram (2 Chr. 16:1-6)
    ⁃    Hanani the Seer rebukes Asa (2 Chr. 16:7-10)

In 1 Kings 15:16-17 we read about the tension between Baasha, King of Israel and Asa, King of Judah, and how there was war between Asa and Baasha. Baasha fortifies Ramah on the main road to Jerusalem close to the border between to Israel and Judah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering Judah’s territory.

Asa retaliates but instead of calling on God as he has in the past, he calls on a foreign power and gives temple adornments, silver and gold to the King of Aram and asks him to attack Baasha. Ben-Hadad of Aram does attack Israel, the northern kingdom and wins. 

Hanani, a prophet comes to Asa following his treaty with Aram and says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” Asa was so angry at the prophet that he put him in prison.

Asa was a good king and had sought to follow the Lord when he first ruled, but in the later years of his reign he did not call on the Lord, instead he relies on himself and others and not God.

The scriptures say, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Asa started out that way, but he did not finish that way. A lesson for us today.

Meanwhile, up north… (in Israel) we read in 1 Kings 15-16.  910-870 BC during the 40 year reign of Asa in Judah, this is how it was going in Israel.

Jeroboam’s son Nadab is on the throne and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord following the ways of his father Jeroboam. Nadab rules for only 2 years. Baasha kills Nadab and rules Israel for 24 years. Baasha battles Israel because of King Asa of Judah’s request. Baasha defeats Israel and kills off all of Jeroboam’s family, ending the rule of Jeroboam’s family and fulfilling the prophetic word given to Jeroboam.  Ahijah’s prophetic word had said that Jeroboam was to follow God, and if he did his family would continue to reign but if he did not it would end. 

We begin to see that when a nation abandons God it invites disaster. The kingdom  of Israel is in chaos. We can see it in the list of rulers of Israel over the next years:
Nadab – 2 years (son of Jeroboam)
Baasha – 24 years (kills Nadab and Jeroboam’s family)
Elah – 2 years (son of Baasha killed by Zimri)
Zimri – 7 days (killed by Baasha’s family)
Omri – 12 years (build new capital: Samaria)
Ahab – 22 years (Omri’s son – he was the worst king of all. Marries Jezebel and establishes Baal worship) 1 Kings 16-22.

God’s anger is aroused with this succession of evil kings of Israel….

…But in the southern kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat is king. 1 chronicles 17 870-848 BC – he was a man who sought the Lord his God. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of David instead of the practices that we see goin on in Israel.

Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor. He removed asheriah poles, he sent teachers out to the people of Judah to teach them about the law in the Torah and revival breaks out.  

Join us next week as we meet Elijah!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

Join us Sundays 
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Check out this episode!

Questions about the Trinity are often asked this way:
    •    Is the word “Trinity” in the Bible?
    •    Do Christians worship three Gods?
    •    Was “Trinity” invented by the Church?
    •    Isn’t the notion of “Trinity” irrational?
    •    Don’t you think this is a minor issue?

Pastor digs into the question of the Trinity by starting at the beginning, in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In Hebrew the word for God that is used in this verse is Elohim. Elohim is a plural noun. God is being described in plural terms!

Genesis 1:2 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” In Hebrew the Spirit of God is “Ruah Elohim”. This is describing God as the Holy Spirit. 

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” The word that stands out here is “said”. 

Observation: Genesis 1
    1.    Plural noun for God the Creator
    2.    Spirit of God involved in Creation
    3.    God’s Word brings forth the Creation

This three-fold pattern continues throughout the Hebrew Scriptures:
    1.    Father – Deuteronomy 32:6 “Is He not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?”
    2.    Spirit – Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God has made me, the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
    3.    Word – Psalm 33:6 “By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” 
  
But the Old Testament also says there is but ONE God. Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel; The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”  

And yet one God is describe in a multiplicity of terms. One God and three very distinct Persons. This pattern continues in the New Testament:
    1.    Father – 1 Peter 1:2 “…chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.”
    2.    Spirit – Acts 5:3-4 “…you have lied to the Holy Spirit…you have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
    3.    Word – John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

In John 1:14 we read more about the Word, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

THE WORD is none other than Jesus, Himself.

The Bible sets forth clearly that the One God has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”   

The word that stands out in this verse is the word NAME – singular – yet THREE are named.

2 Corinthians 13:14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  

This is clear Biblical teaching that the One true God has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is complex!!! His ways are higher than ours!

God who created us….
    •    Planned to Save us (God knew we would wander away from Him, but His plan from the beginning was save us)
    •    Came to Save us (we cannot save ourselves, we need a divine rescue. Our Divine Rescuer is Jesus who came to earth taking on human flesh and enduring the cross)
    •    Dwells in us to Save us (the God who created us dwells in us, brings us to faith, changes hearts, gives power and testifies to Jesus the Savior)

God works as a unity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each unique and distinct but also uniquely ONE.  

Is the word “Trinity” in the Bible? The word is not but “the Trinity” is found: Father, Son and Holy Spirit in both Old and New Testaments.

Do Christians worship three Gods? No, there is but ONE God, but has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We do not need to comprehend this to know God’s power and presence and truth. 

Was “Trinity” invented by the Church?  The term is invented but The TRUTH of THE TRINITY has been there since the beginning.

Isn’t the notion of “Trinity” irrational? This is a profound mystery, but not irrational. Pastor shares a lesson from Dr. Walter Martin and the Triple Point of Water where water is solid, gas and liquid all at one time. Three yet one. Is it irrational that the God of the universe can “three yet one.”

Don’t you think this is a minor issue? No because when we start ignoring what God says about Himself and what the Bible teaches we go into false teaching and false testimony. This is where false religions come in. We’re living in a culture that has walked from God and it is disastrous. This is NOT a minor issue – God is above ALL things and He is worthy of our worship and praise.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

Join us Sundays 
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Check out this episode!

The Gospel of John Week 16
Scripture: John 11:54-12:26.

Pastor begins today’s class with stats and information regarding people falling away from faith. He shares that stats of the younger generation falling from faith show the reason to be that they don’t see any evidence for having faith, stating that in college they found out evolution is a reality and the there is no God. 

However, we are living in a time when there is more and more evidence is accumulating in remarkable ways that testifies not only to the reliability of the scripture, but also to the reality of God! There are incredible evidences being discovered that point to the very truthfulness of the Bible.

Pastor shares information and pictures of several recent discoveries. So many remarkable items are being discovered that provide confirmation that these people in the Bible are real people.

What we will see in the coming chapters of John is Jesus will fulfill everything the scriptures spoke of and He fulfills the feasts of the Jewish people. 

As we pick up with our story, Jesus raising Lazarus was the event that finally causes the opponents to Him (the religious leaders) to put out a warrant for His arrest, so Jesus leaves and heads to Ephraim. The town of Ephraim is a place of safety for Jesus. While in Ephraim the time of the Passover was approaching, so Jesus and the disciples head to Jerusalem with a stop in Bethany.

Lazarus, Martha and Mary host a special dinner to honor Jesus and Mary anoints Jesus’ head and feet with perfumed, expensive oil.

The day of this anointing was 6 days before the Passover. The day following this meal at Lazarus’ home, Jesus will enter Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday. He will fill the air with the beautiful aroma from this perfumed oil Mary anointed Him with. This anointing is no accident. In the Psalms and other Old Testament scriptures we read about kings arriving in towns anointed and fragrant and now Jesus arrives in Jerusalem as people greet him with shouts of Hosanna and palm branches, He’s anointed and fragrant – heralded as a king, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Tradition tells us that when a king rode into a city on a donkey – he was coming in peace. If he rode in on a course – he was coming to conquer.

Pastor takes time to share how special donkeys are and why. He also shares that at the time of Jesus, during a very short and unique window of time, Passover was celebrated in a specific way and the lambs were prepared in an especially unique way. It is during the very unique window of time in human history, that Jesus comes into Jerusalem as the Lamb of God. These unique practices at this specific time, are not coincidences – instead they show the fingerprints of God in every detail from the donkey to the Passover to the lambs – It’s all incredibly orchestrated.

As our story continues we see Greeks and Gentiles at the Temple asking to see Jesus followed by Jesus predicting His death. Jesus says that it is the hour for Him to be glorified. 

How fascinating that Jesus sees the cross ahead as glorification.  It’s not a miscarriage of justice – His dying brings glory to the Father and His resurrection brings life to the world! Life forever for each one of us who will believe in Him!

Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

This class will focus on Rehoboam the king of Judah, the southern kingdom, and  his son Abijah as found in 1 Kings 14-15 and 2 Chronicles 11-13. They reigned 931-910 BC.

In 2 Chronicles 12:1-5 we read that 5 years into Rehoboam’s reign that he and his kingdom have abandoned the law of the Lord. Rehoboam rules from Jerusalem and is attacked by the king of Egypt who has a huge army and captures the cities along the way to Jerusalem. Then the prophet Shemaiah comes and tells Rehoboam, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore I now abandon you to Shishak (Egyptian king).'”

In verse 6 we read that after hearing the prophets words, Rehoboam humbled himself and his people humbled themselves and they understand that the Lord is just. Their humility is an example for us today. We too must be humble before God.

Verse 7, we see that when they humbled themselves the mercy of God was displayed as He says that He will not destroy them but will give them deliverance and will not pour out His wrath on Jerusalem through the Egyptian king, Shishak. But that there would still be a consequence to having abandoned God’s law.

Rehoboam reigned 17 years and what we learn is: There is nothing more important than knowing the living God and walking with Him.

Rehoboam’s son Abijah succeeds him as king and reigns 3 years. The war between Jeroboam (Northern kingdom) and Rehoboam continues while Abijah is king as well. In 2 Chronicle 13:3 we see Abijah battling with 400,000 and that Jeroboam had a troop total of 800,000. 

Abijah announces to Jeroboam and his men, “God is with us; he is our leader. The priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.” Abijah recognizes it’s important to follow God and at the sound of Judah’s priests’ trumpets the men of Judah raised the battle cry and God gave them victory over Jeroboam and his men.

Though Abijah and his men were outnumbered 2 to 1, we read in verse 18 that the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord.

This is a truth not just for back then, but it is a truth for us today. This story is a reminder to rely on the Lord no matter how bleak the outlook appears, no matter how difficult things look, we can rely on the Lord!

Abijah’s son, Asa, succeeded Abijah. Asa does rule for 40 years, ruling Judah from 910-870 BC. His story is found in 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 14-16.  

In 2 Chronicles 14:2 we read that Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord.  Asa was the 1st of 8 “good” kings of Judah. Judah had 19 kings, 8 were “good.”
Israel also had 19 kings – none of them are described as “good”.

While Asa ruled, he removed the foreign altars, cut down the Asherah poles and commanded Judah to seek the Lord and to obey the Lord’s laws and commands. The kingdom was at peace under him. He got rid of the false worship, wanting His “people to worship God alone.”

Near the end of Asa’s reign they are under several major attacks. Asa calls on the Lord to help them and outnumbered they win because they relied on the Lord. 

Azariah, the prophet, then speaks to Asa, 2 Chronicles 15:1-2, and tells Asa that the Lord is with you when you are with Him. And revival brakes out across Judah. They turned their hearts back to God.

May we too seek the Lord, humble ourselves and turn our hearts to Him, for in God alone is Salvation, in God alone is strength and in God alone is victory!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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This series looks for answers to some of the most common, pressing and most difficult questions that are heard today.

The question for this video: “Is Jesus the only way to God?” This question comes from supporters of Jesus, from seekers looking for truth, and from skeptics.  

Pastor will approach this question with the desire to be:
    ⁃    Biblically Accurate: tell what the Bible actually says
    ⁃    Rationally Defensible: and why what the Bible says makes sense

Many times our question, “Is Jesus the only way to God? Starts with this question, “Didn’t Christians invent the claim that Jesus is the only way to God?” 

So let’s address this first. No, we didn’t invent this – Jesus did, He’s the one that made the claim. 

John 14:6 we read: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.'” 

Luke 19:10 – He came to save the lost
Matthew 20 – He came to give His life for us
Mark 10 – He is the ransom payment

Biblical Narrative
    – Creation – The story of creation – God made all things by His Word and God gave man 1 choice….
    – The Fall into sin – man broke the relationship with God, others, nature and self.
    – Promise of a deliverer, the Messiah, Jesus.
    – Provision through God’s Grace – We are saved by the mercy of God not by our actions. God provided His Son as the Sacrifice for the sin, the shedding of blood and death on the cross 
    – Fulfillment was found in the coming of Jesus into the world, who lived the perfect life, willingly went to the cross for the sins of all. For my sins and your sins, it’s personal. See John 3:16.

Our sin has separated us from God and what we need is a sacrificial victim who lays down his life for all and Jesus, the Son of God, gives His life for all. He pays the price for our sin.

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may now that you have eternal life.”

Eternal life is a gift offered through the shed blood, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. That is the clear teaching of the Bible.  It is biblical accurate and rationally defensible.

The final question:
“Whom will YOU believe?”

When one looks at other religions outside Christianity, our to other leaders that people follow, they were and are mortal. There is only one who is immortal. Only one has conquered death through His resurrection. There’s only one who is alive. And that is Jesus.

This is the fork in the road… 
Who will you listen to.  The dead ones or The Living One? 

Jesus is alive forever more and He will return.  Without Him there is no hope. With Him we have everlasting life and that is the Gospel truth!

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Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

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The Gospel of John Week 15
Scripture: John 10:34-11:53, Psalm 82.

John wrote his Gospel to make us understand that Jesus is just who He says He is. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and this Gospel of John. When we read it with open eyes and ears and minds, we see and understand who Jesus is.

As our text opens today, we see the religious leaders again trying to trap Jesus and seize Him. Killing Him is their goal.  We read again that He escapes, but not because He is afraid, but because the time has not yet come. When the time does come, Jesus will be absolutely fearless.  We will see this developing as we move into chapter 11.

As we enter chapter 11, Pastor shares some of the more recent archaeological discoveries in the area of the Jordan River Valley. Pastor shares the possible discovery of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the interesting information we learn from this discovery.

As we begin chapter 11 we hear that Lazarus, who lives  in Bethany is sick. Jesus is about 20 miles from Bethany and is across the Jordan River on the opposite side.

Lazarus has two sisters, Mary and Martha. Pastor does some speculating about Mary. He shares that both early and late in Jesus’ ministry a woman anoints His feet and wipes them with her hair. In the first anointing Jesus tells the woman her sins are forgiven. Pastor poses the possibility that both anointing were done by Mary, Lazarus’ sister, and he goes further with the possibility that Mary of Bethany (Lazarus’ sister) may also be Mary Magdalene (the one from whom Jesus cast out seven demons.)

Back to our story… Jesus is about 20 miles away when He receives word of Lazarus’ sickness from a messenger sent by Mary and Martha. When Jesus hears Lazarus is sick He says that the sickness is not going to end in death, but in the glory of God. Jesus does not head to Bethany yet.

By the time Jesus does finally head to Bethany Lazarus is dead and when He arrives Lazarus has already been in the tomb four days.

Martha greets Jesus as He arrives. Jesus says to Martha that He is the Resurrection and the Life and that the one who believes in Him will live even though they die and that whoever lives by believing in Him will never die. Then He asks Martha, “Do you believer this?” And she replies with a statement of faith that He is the Messiah and the Son of God.

Then Jesus asks Martha to send Mary to Him. Mary comes and falls at Jesus feet saying that had He been there her brother would not have died. 

Reminder: Jesus had said to the messenger that had come to tell Him of Lazarus’ sickness, that Lazarus’ illness would not end in death, but it did…… and Mary weeps.  Jesus asks where Lazarus has been laid and He weeps too.  Jesus understands our sorrows.
Then Jesus asks them to open the tomb and though reluctant as the body has been dead four days, they move the stone.

Pastor talks about the process of a Jewish burial in the days of Jesus and also shares pictures and information on ossuaries that have been discovered.

Back to our story….  Jesus says for them to roll the stone away, and adds, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”

The stone is rolled away – Jesus prays to the Father – then He says, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus comes out of the tomb alive and covered in the linen burial wrappings.

The wrappings are removed and many believed in Jesus after seeing this – others went to the religious leaders and told them what Jesus had just done. Now their desire to get rid of Jesus rises even more. Caiaphas then says, “isn’t it better for one man to die for the people, than that the whole nation perish” and Caiaphas unknowingly speaks a prophetic word. And from that day on the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus.

We begin to see Jesus set His own execution into motion. This is not something that happens by accident, it is the Father’s will and it is something Jesus runs toward. He willingly sets Himself in this position the leads to His death and ends with His resurrection!

In today’s study we see there is a great difference between religion and a relationship with the Living God.

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    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

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